Things to do in Caen
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Mémorial – Un Musée pour la Paix
Situated 3km northwest of the city centre, this innovative memorial-museum provides an insightful and vivid account of the Battle of Normandy. Tickets bought after 1pm can be used to re-enter until 1pm the next day. All signs are in French, English and German.
The visit begins with a whistle-stop overview of Europe's descent into total war, tracing events from the end of WWI and the Treaty of Versailles, through the rise of fascism in Europe and the German occupation of France, right up through the Battle of Normandy. It's a hugely impressive affair, using sound, lighting, film, animation and audio testimony, as well as a range of artefacts and exhibits, to graphically evo…
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Abbaye aux Hommes
Caen's two Romanesque abbeys were founded in the mid-11th century by William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, as part of a deal in which the Church pardoned these fifth cousins for having semi-incestuously married each other. With its magnificent and multiturreted Église St-Étienne, the Abbaye aux Hommes is near the western end of rue Écuyère. This was William's final resting place, though the original tomb was destroyed by a 16th-century Calvinist mob and, in 1793, by fevered Revolutionaries – a solitary thighbone is all that's left of Will's mortal remains. Today, the 18th-century convent buildings house the town hall, and tours of the abbey run at 9.30a…
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Château de Guillaume le Conquérant
Looming above the centre of the city and surrounded by a dry moat and massive battlements, the castle was established by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, in 1060 and extended by his son Henry I. Visitors can walk around the ramparts, and visit the 12th-century Église St-Georges (open during temporary exhibitions) and the Échiquier (Exchequer), which dates from about 1100 and is one of the oldest civic buildings in Normandy. The Jardin des Simples is a garden of medicinal and aromatic herbs cultivated during the Middle Ages – some of them poisonous.
Near the château are two of the only prewar buildings left in the city centre: the half-timbered, 16th-century Mu…
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Château de Caen
Looming above the centre of the city from a domed hilltop, and surrounded by a dry moat, the Château de Caen was founded by William the Conqueror in 1060 and extended by his son Henry I. It has been used over the centuries by royals, revolutionaries, townsfolk and the military.
Take a walk around the ramparts and visit the 12th-century Chapelle de St-Georges and the Échiquier (Exchequer), which dates from about AD 1100 and is one of the oldest civic buildings in Normandy.
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Le Bouchon
Look no further for Caen's most popular and buzzing restaurant. Le Bouchon is well worth reserving ahead for, though you may squeeze in if you simply turn up. You may well be the only foreigners here and certainly don't expect a translation of the chalk-board menu – but if your French is up to it, come and savour some spectacular modern Norman cooking and enjoy a wonderful choice of well-priced wines, which the manager will very passionately help you choose.
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Abbaye aux Dames
The counterpoint of the Abbaye aux Hommes is the Abbaye aux Dames at the eastern end of rue des Chanoines. The complex includes the Église de la Trinité. Look for Matilda's tomb behind the main altar and for the striking pink stained-glass windows beyond. Free twice-daily tours take you through the interior in some detail, though you can snoop around yourself at other times outside of Mass.
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La Petite Auberge
A slice of the country comes to downtown Caen at this quaint little restaurant, serving up hearty mains such as Breton sardines, pommes gratinées (sliced oven-cooked potatoes), and the local speciality, tripes à la Caen (tripe cooked with carrots, onions, leeks, celery, Calvados and herbs).
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El Ché Guevara
Don't ask us how the Cuba-Caen connection started, but you'll find this is just one of many Havana-themed nightspots round town. So dig out those Cuban heels (what do mean you didn't pack them?), order a margarita and break out those bossa nova moves, baby.
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Musée des Beaux-Arts
This excellent and well-curated museum takes you on a tour through the history of Western art from the 15th to 21st centuries. The collection includes works by Rubens, Tintoretto, Géricault, Monet, Bonnard, Braque, Balthus and Dubuffet, among many others.
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Abracadabra
Ever heard of a Pizza Triton, Pizza Popeye or Pizza Yassa? No? Then head for this fantastic place a little further down the street from Le P'tit B, which serves up more varieties of wood-fired pizza than you ever thought possible.
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Le P'tit B
This classy little stone-walled eatery gives traditional flavours a contemporary twist – the wok de trois poissons (three-fish stew) and beef fillet are a treat for the tastebuds. The menu changes four times a year.
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Maître Corbeau
This restaurant is Caen's undisputed cheese specialist, serving up massive plates of tartiflette and Savoyard fondues in an Alpine-inspired atmosphere (including the all-important plastic cow in the window).
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O'Donnell's Irish Pub
Once you've had enough of the Cuban tip, head over for a pint of the black stuff and a whiskey chaser at this authentically Irish bar, complete with upside-down barrel-tables on the outside terrace.
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Restaurant à Table
An excellent option for traditional French cuisine – including four fish and four meat mains – at reasonable prices. Specialities include home-smoked salmon and some scrumptious desserts.
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Le Cargö
At the far end of the pleasure port, this scène de musique actuelle (venue for contemporary music) presents cutting-edge local bands as well as more-established groups.
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Musée de la Poste
The half-timbered, 16th-century Musée de la Poste is one of the two of the only prewar buildings left in the city centre near Château de Guillaume le Conquérant.
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Maison des Quatrans
The 15th-century Maison des Quatrans is one of the two of the only prewar buildings left in the city centre near Château de Guillaume le Conquérant.
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Glue Pot
Round the evening off with some live music at this hot-and-sweaty sinkhole next door to O'Donnell's, the best venue for Caen's new bands.
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Musée de Normandie
This two-part museum looks at traditional life in Normandy and the region's history and archaeology.
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Private Tour to Bayeux, Honfleur and Pays d' Auge from Caen
by Viator
Discover the history, culture and food of Normandy on this private tour from Caen to Bayeux, Honfleur and Pays d’Auge. See the famous Bayeux Tapestry depicting …Not LP reviewed
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Private Tour: Normandy Landing Beaches, Battlefields, Museums and Cemeteries from Caen
by Viator
Take a private tour from Caen to Normandy, where you’ll explore sites of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944 – more famously known as D-Day. You can personalize…Not LP reviewed
from USD$99.41 -
Private Day Tour of Mont Saint-Michel and Saint Malo from Caen
by Viator
See the beautiful sights of the island of Mont Saint-Michel and the walled town of Saint-Malo on this private day trip from Caen. Mont Saint-Michel, located jus…Not LP reviewed
from USD$99.41 -
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Théâtre de Caen
Offers a season of opera, dance, jazz and classical concerts that runs from October to May.
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